COVID-19 has made students of us all; learning new ways to work, using new technologies, and finding new ways to tackle our challenges. Whilst we may have closed the doors of our Growth Hubs across Gloucestershire for now, our teams are working harder than ever to support businesses remotely.

Our MO has always been to simplify things for you. To help you find the path of least resistance to where you’re trying to get to, by taking out the middle man, by making game-changing introductions, and by being a friend in-the-know for you to bounce off.

We can’t meet face-to-face right now, but everything else is still on the cards. Through digital support from our teams across the Gloucestershire Growth Hub network, telephone and video-conferencing, all of our support, training and events are still taking place. We’ve also produced a survey to help us find out what Gloucestershire’s business community needs, make your voice heard and complete the surveytoday.

We are here to help you keep your business surviving and thriving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and just as importantly, we’ll be here to help you when it's over. Apply for free support from our expert terms today or drop us an email at talktous@thegrowthhub.biz.

The Growth Hub Approach

Finance & Funding

Use this online tool can help you start to establish what financial support is available for you and your business. Find out which funding scheme you’re eligible for, and which is most appropriate to the challenges and opportunities you’re facing.

We know it can be hard to know where to start, and our expert Business Navigators and Guides keep up to speed on the latest funding schemes and grants available so make sure you get supportfrom them if you’re looking for finance options.

If you're self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been adversely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) find out if you can use this scheme to claim a grant.

New funding schemes are being added all the time, so it’s worth talking to your Growth Hub Business Navigator or Guide about what is out there, checking gov.uk for announcements, and your trade associationfor updates.

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People & Skills

Furlough and Statutory Sick Pay

You can claim for 80% of your employee’s wages plus any employer National Insurance and pension contributions, if you have put them on furlough because of coronavirus (COVID-19). The online service takes you through what you need to claim, how to process your application, and what happens next.

If you’re looking to develop new skills in yourself, or your team members, to support the new direction your business may be taking, our online programme of workshops and 1-2-1s are all free of charge and especially designed to help you grow.

Apprenticeships

If you are providing apprenticeships through your business, guidance has been produced to ensure apprentices can continue and complete their apprenticeship, despite any break they need to take as a result of COVID-19, and to support providers during this challenging time.

Pensions

The Pensions Regulator has produced guidance to help you navigate how COVID-19 could impact automatic enrolment and DC pension contributions.

Additional Resources

To help you and your team get back to work safely, there may be some changes you need to make at your workplace. We have a directory of Gloucestershire businesses that can supply the products, equipment, signage or fixtures you need.

Your local Council will be able to provide additional support and resources:

HMRC have online help set up to help businesses and self-employed people concerned about not being able to pay their tax due to coronavirus. The best way to get help from HMRC on any topic is to contact them online.Alternatively, you can call them on 0800 0159 559

You can contact the government’s business support helpline for free advice

Are you able to offer coronavirus (COVID-19) support from your business? Via an online form, you’ll be asked some questions about the type of support you can give. You’ll then be contacted as soon as possible if your support is needed.

Make your voice heard

We want to make sure our support and resources are helping you with both the challenges and opportunities you are facing. We would like to understand what support you’ve already accessed, what support you need looking forwards, and what impact COVID-19 has had, and will have, on your business. Make your voice heard in our new survey here.

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Recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic represents the single biggest economic challenge since the Second World War. However, it also presents the single biggest opportunity to reshape the British economy to make it more inclusive, productive, sustainable, innovative, and resilient.

David Owen

CEO, GFirst LEP

We can support you with funding bids and connect you with experts.

The Growth Hub's experts are trained to help you maximise the profitability and financial performance of your business.